Arc-welding



Oct. 6, 1931. 1, F L|NCOLN 1,826,355

ARC WELDING Filed Jan. l2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sneek l INVENTOR.

@222615 fr i216@ /Iz A TTORNEY' Oct. 6, 1931. J. F. LINCOLN ARC WELDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

d INVLNTOR. ./221765 ff [Yihad/2 WHQL? -ticular regard to methods of electric wel ng,

Paenadyoa. s, 1931` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .xmas r. Lmcomr, or camini. on'ro, AssreNon :ro ma Lmcorm mais con rm, or cnlzvnmm). omo, A conronArIoN or omo ARC-WELDING Appunti mea Janny 1a, ma. semina. 612,229. c

Thal-present improvements have more arand of working metal by electricity in general, wherein an electric arc is struck between "5 the part or parts to be fused and a carbon electrode thatis moved\re1 atively to lsuch parts so as to cause the arcto traverse the `work. One principal object of the mventlon is to control the direction of blow of the i: arc so as to cause the same to incline in any the direction of travel of the electr desired direction from the end of the electrode, for example forwardly o r rearwardly, or laterally to either side, havlng re ardlto e re ativel to the work. A further object is Ato 4obtain a smooth, even action of the'arc so as 'to roduce a more nearly perfectweld.

, his invention is related in its subject matterv to -my Patent No. 1,774,023 lssued on August 26,1930. y

Where a filler strip orI wire 1s dlsposed along a seam that is to be welded and a fluxing material is in addition utilized, particularly where such material 1s mtroduced in the form of a coating applied to such strip or rod, it is desirable to melt down such flux -first of all, then such strip and finally the juxtaposed edges of the pieces .of Itetal which are to be united. In such case, 1t will be desirable to have the arc blow forwardl In other cases, however, it may be desira le to have the arc incline in the reverse direction, while in a case where the work slants transversely of the line of the weld, I have found it contributes to the perfection of the juncture obtained if the arc be blown against the incline, since thereby the tendency for the molten metal to run laway may be overcome.

It would appear, in other words, that theA arc comprises a In riad .of implngmg particles, the action o which, if properly controlled, is to smooth out and retain in place the metal as it is rendered molten by the heat of such arc. At the same time the arc is prevented fromvjumping from one spot to another, or from becoming wild, and partakes more of the character of a, gas torch in the smoothness and quiet with which it works. f

I have discovered several ways in which dinectional control of such arc may be successfully accomplished. In the first place, it appears that the arc will always blow away from the direction in which themoa of the current comes throu the work to point where the arc is strur, the work always belng connected with the source of current supply on the positive, and the electrode on the negative side. Accordingly, I may control the action of the arc by varying the direction of flow of the incommg current. Another way that I have found effective for controlling the arc is to place alongside of and substantially parallel with the path of travel thereof two bars, ypreferably of metal, although any conductive material suitable for electrode use may be employed. Such bars,

which may at the same t1m e serve as clamps to hold the pieces of work in place, apparently divert or divide the magneticflux in such a manner as to produce a field that has a remarkable quieting and steadying effect on the arc. \Again, I have found that physical means, such as-a jet of air, or other gaseous medium, may be employed positively to give direction to the arc. The use of such a jet, pro] ected against the arc, has the further spevcilic advantage that fluxing material may be electro-magnetic force is exerted at the point -where the welding takes place by applying an electro-magnet"to that face ofthe plates opposite to the one on which the arc is formed. In the Zerener system an electro-magnet is likewise employed but in connection with two carbon pencils inclined so that the arc will be formed between the proximate ends of the latter. Such electro-magnet, as employed by Dr. Zerener (see Brit. Patent No. 20,170/1894), surmounts such carbon electrodes or pencils and its action simply is to direct the arc flame from the carbons until it assumes a form somewhat similar to a blow pipe flame and in this form may be directed onto the metals to be welded.

It does not seem, however, heretofore to have been realized in the utilization of the electric arc in metal working processes that where the article being worked, or the bed of conducting material upon which such article is ordinarily supported, is utilized to form a portion of the path traversed by the current in passing to the point opposite which the electrode is located, the flow of such current produces a magnetic field that may seriously influence the behavior of the arc. I have discovered that where the lines of force in such field are properly disposed, the tendency of the arc to lag or stick, as well as the unsteadiness of the arcconsequent upon its irregular shifting from one oint to another on the work, may be largely, i not entirely, overcome. Supplementary to the foregoing method of control, I may also employ, 1f desired, an electro-magnet to create a special field, the lines of force of which will co-operate with those roduced, as aforesaid, by the flow of the wel ing current through the work or bed upon which it is supported, or which may even counteract suc last mentioned field, if not found practical to maintain same in proper'relation to the work.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the ste s hereinafter fully described and particular y pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following descri tion setting forth in detail one approved met od of carrying out the invention, such disclosed mode, however, constituting but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic representation of the manner in which a weld is formed where I control the electric arc simply by control of direction of flow of the current through the Work or bed on which the work rests; Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 thereon; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation, similar to Fig. 1, of such operation where an electro-magnet is conjointly employed; Fig. 4 illustrates in a similar manner still another arrangement wherein the current flowing through the work is utilized to control the arc; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a crosssection and a longitudinal section of an apparatus wherein clamp-bars disposed alongside the seam supplement or themselves accomplish such control; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an electrode holder'equipped with means for projecting a jet of air against the arc.

In the arran ement illustrated in the several figures o the drawin s, the work is shown as consisting of two seets 1, 1, which are disposed with the edges thereof, that are to be joined together, in substantially abutting relation. Sufcient space, however, is left between such ed es, or ordinarily the latter are slightly beve ed, so that a filler strip or wire 2 may be inserted therebetween. Such element 2 ordinarily will be of the same material, i. e. iron, as the metal of the sheets, but may, if desired, contain s ecial alloying constituents, or even be o a different metal entirely, so far as the practice of the present invention is concerned. The object of the illustrated operation, it will be understood, is to melt down such element 2 and interfase same with the edges so that the resultant seam 3, as shown at the left in Figs. 1l and 3, will be of substantially the same thickness as the sheets and of equal, if not greater, strength and ductility than the latter.

As shown, the sheets l with such strip 2 interposed therebetween are preferably supported on a bed or anvil 4 which will ordinarily be of copper or other heat conducting material, and in order to increase the coolin effect of such bed, it may be made hollow with suitable connections (not shown) for circulating water through its interior.

The welding, as previously indicated, is accomplished by means of an electric arc, a carbon electrode 5 being employed and the welding circuit including such carbon, the strip 2 and the bed or anvil 4. I consider it undesirable, where the sheets are of relatively light gauge, to connect the corresponding lead directly therewith, inasmuch as we have found that a sharp bend, i. e. one approaching a right angle, in the line of flow of the current A through t e work to the point where the arc is formed, is objectionable, unless its effect is in some way counteracted, creating, as it does, a magnetic field that has a very disturbing effect on the arc, or at least acts u "n such arc in av manner contrary to that esired. Instead I bring the current to the point on the work opposite the electrode in a line that is as nearly direct or straight as possible and that does not incline to a perpendicular line assing through such point at an an le neary as sharp as a ri ht angle. Preferably such line of flow will be ke t well within an angle of 45 degrees to suc pe ndicular line; furthermore, such line of ow where it does incline will preferably lie in a plane passing through such perpendicular line and the junction line or 'seam between the sheets 1. As a result of the foregoing disposition, the effect on the aro of the magnetic" field produced by the flow of current through the bed and work will be substantially confined to the plane justdefined and if the prescribed` lag, will tend to blow thefsame ahead and thus melt down the filler strip or wiref2 and the flux utilized in connection therewith so as to obtain a uniformly perfect weld in the manner hereinbefore set forth. v

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that by means of a different disposition of leads, etc., the arc may be caused to blow in any desired direction.

Depending upon the length of the seam to be formed and the thickness of the bed 4, it may be necessary either to shift the work upon such bed or to shift the point at which the current from the outside lead is su plied to the bed. Where the latter course 1s followed, a movable contact 6 that travels in unison with the electrode 4 will provide such shifting connection with the bed.

Where it is not found practical to maintain the line of flow of the current through the werk to a point opposite the arc, ,in such manner as to fully obtain the result sought, viz.,

the inclination or blowing ofthe arc for-- wardly in the direction in which it travels aicng the work, l employ,as shown in Fig. 3, an electro-magnet 7, preferably consisting of a coil surrounding lthe 'electrode 5 through which the welding current is passed on its way tesuch electrode, as specifically illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. `The'lines of force cf the resultant field will then be such as to incline cr direct the arc in the desired manner, prcviding'the coil is located closely adjacent 'te the operative end of the electrode from which the arc springs. The magnetic field thus created may be utilized either to supplement the one naturally produced by the flow of current through the work, or to counteract the latter where it is impossible to maintain the line of flow as prescribed. From 20() to 300 ampere-turns, with any usual welding current, will be found suilicient for such electro-magnet 7, the direc-tion of the flux created by the magnet being the same as the direction of flow of the welding current through the electrode.

1n the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the lead to the bed 4 is dividedinto two branches 1() and 11, respectively connected with. oppcsite ends of such bed. A fixed resistance 12 in the first branch, combined with a variable resistance 13 in the Second, renders it possible to cause the current flow through the bed to the welding pointin the work to prependerate in either direction as desired, despite the fact such point shifts as the electrode travels along the Work. y

The arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is substantially the same as in the preceding figures except for the addition of two bars 15, 15, that are laid on the work, one on each Side of the joint to be welded.,v `So far as these Figs. 5 and afford inclusive illustration of the several means'hereinbefore described for controllin the blow of the are,

the coil 7a (correspon 'ng with coil 7 of Fig.

3l) is shown as connected in series with the e ectrode 5, so that the current will pass through the coil on its way to such electrode in the` preferred manner indicated above; while the movable lead for supplying current tothe Work is exact-ly s shown in Fig. 1. Referrin then to the added feature consisting of ars 15, these bars may be of such weight. in themselves, or such additional pressure may be applied thereto, as to cause them to clamp the edges of the sheets that form the work firmly upon the bed 4, and as previously explained, they will be of metal or equivalent conductive material. The action of such bars when thus disposed parallel with the seam, one on each side of` the path oft'ravel of the are, has already been sufficiently explained. However, special note should be made of the fact that due te the location of these bars in close proximity to the path of travel of the electrode, any tendency on the part of the arc to wander laterally will be efi'ectually overcome. In other words, the material of the bars being of metal, the arc once struck, preferentially stays by the pool of molten metal or crater thereby formed in the work, and as the electrode is moved along the line of the weld and the arc becomes attenuated, it will more readily follow such line, where the latter is guarded, so to speak, on either side by a bar of the charac-ter described. The latter being of metal and of relatively considerable mass, as shown in crosssection in Fig. 5, is not apt to become heated, even in the lproximity of the arc, to the degree that the portion of the filler strip just forward of the are and the adjacent edge portions of sheets 1 de. Accordingly the arc is constrained to move in the desired direction instead of jumping to one side or the other.

Finally, in Fig. 7 there is shown'in somewhat greater detail than in preceding figures a holder 20 of special design for theelectrode 5, such electrode being characterized among other things by having connections 2l for circulating a cooling liquid through the body thereof. The feature of present interest,

however, is a tube 22 adjustably attached -5` to said holder and terminating in a jet, through which air or an equivalent gaseous medium may be directed against the arc, immediately in the rearv thereof. As a result such are may be positively blown to assume desired forwardly or otherwise inclined position. Aspreviously noted, if desired, a suitable fluxing material in powdered form may be supplied along with such jet of air by being fed into the tube 22. In this which com rises adjustably controlling the angular re ation of the arc to the work by directing a line of current ow through the work or its support from a point adjustably movable with respect to the electrode.

2. The method of electric arc welding Awhichcom rises adjustably controllin the 00 A ,presented in arcing relation to the work andmoved relatively thereto alon angular re ation of the arc to the wor by maintaining constant the angular relation between the line of current ow throughY the work or its sup ort, and the axis of the electrode at appreciably less than a straight angle to create a resultantmagnetic field adapted to bear laterally on the arc. 3. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a welding electrode adapted to be presented in arcin relation to the ,work and moved relatively t ereto along the line to be welded,a conductor for welding current having contact with the work or its support, means for maintainingthe arc in a. redeterminedangular relation to'the wo'r and a bar of metal disposed alongside the path oftravel of the arc, said bar having such a degree of heat conductivity and extend- `ing away from the work in such close proximity to such arc as to restrain the tendency of such arc to Wander to the corresponding side of such line of travel. I

4. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a welding electrode adapted to be presented in arcing relation to the work and moved relatively thereto along the line to be welded, a conductor for welding current having contact with the work or its support, means fory maintaining the arc in a predetermined angular relation to the work, and a bar of metal disposed on each side of the path of travel of the arc, said'bars having such a degree of heat conductivity land `extending away from the Work in such close proximityto such larc as to restrain the tendency of such arc to wander to either side of such line.

5. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a welding electrode adapted to be the line to be welded, a conductor for we ding current having contact with the work or its support and adjustable relative to said electrode, and

or steps stated by any of the following a4 bar of metal disposed oneach side of the path of travel ofthe arc, saidY bars having such a degree of heat conductivity and exxtending away from the work in such close proximity to such arc as to restrain the tendency of such arc towander to either sideof such line. ,v v

6. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a welding electrode adapted to be presented in arcing relation to the work and V moved relatively thereto alon the line to be welded, a ,conductor for welding current having contact with the work or its support and adjustable relative to said electrode, and a helical coil for electric current around said electrode.

7. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a welding electrode adapted to .be presented in arcing relation to the work and moved relatively thereto along the line to be welded, a conductor for welding current having contact with the work or its support and adjustable,V relativeto said electrode, a helical coil for electric current around said electrode, a bar of metal disposed side of the path oftravel o the arc, said bars having such a degree of heat conductivity and extending away from the -work'in'V such. close proximity tol such arc as to restrain the tendency-of such arc to wander to either side of such line.

8. In arc. welding mechanism, the combination of a welding electrode adapted tobe presented inarcing relation to the Work and" the work in suchjclosef proximity to suchv arc as to restrain the tendency of such arc to wanderto either side of such line.

' 9. In arc welding mechanism, the combina-v on each j loo tion of `a. welding electrode` adapted to be presented in arcing relation to the work and movable relatively thereto along the line to be welded, a conductor for welding current fixed relative to said electrode and movable relative to the work and Contactin there- ,with or its support, a bar of metal isposed- -for electric current around said electrode. v

Signed by me this 10th day of January, 1923.

JAMES F. LINCOLN. 

